Drive mechanism for an escalator



0 1963 E. A. CLEMET-SEN EIAL 3,107,773

DRIVE MECHANISM FOR AN ESCALATOR Original Filed July 27, 1959 IN V EN TOR.

A'rraRIvEYs United States Patent DRIVE MECHANISM FOR AN ESCALATOR Erling A. Clernetsen and .iohn A. Clernetsen, both of 500 N. Sheridan Road, Wilmette, Ill.

Continuation of application Ser. No. 829,611, July 27, 1959, now Patent No. 2,940,578, dated June 14, 1960. This application Apr. 19, 1960, Ser. No. 23,200

1 Claim. (Cl. 198-46) Our invention relates to a new and useful improvement in a drive mechanism for an escalator and has for its principal object the provision in a mechanism of this character a means for continuously driving an endless step escalator in a smooth uninterrupted manner.

Another object of our invention is in the provision in a mechanism of this character of a driving means which is operable upon each step of the endless step escalator at a predetermined time andfor a predetermined duration during the travel of the step.

Yet another object of our invention is in the provision in a mechanism of this character of a means for assuring a positive driving connection between the driving means and the driven means of the escalator.

Still another and equally important object of our invention is in the provision in a mechanism of this character of an endless driving chain for the escalator which has a guiding and positioning means associated therewith.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings showing the preferred form of construction, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic side elevational view of our improved escalator and driving means;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary detailed view showing the driving connection between the driving means and driven means of our escalator;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic side elevational view of the chain drive and support therefor, and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of two steps of our improved step train.

In the prior art practice the conveyor systems have required the operational functions of sprocket wheels at each level adjacent the ends of the escalators for driving the endless step train through such escalators. The drive mechanisms include an endless chain associated with and passing over such end sprocket wheels.

Our present application is a continuation of our application Serial No. 829,611 filed July 27, 1959, now United States Letters Patent 2,940,578.

Our invention pertains to an escalator which eliminates the use of end sprocket wheels. Our improved drive mechanism for an escalator reduces the length of endless chain used in the driving of the endless step train through the escalator, and it includes a positive driving connection between such endless chain and each step of the escalator.

Referring to the drawings particularly FIG. 1 there is shown in a schematic view an escalator for conveying passengers between two floor levels which are represented as landings and 11. Our escalator as it extends between these landings 10 and 11 comprises two complementary sections 12 and 13. Each section includes as a part thereof an inclined upper and lower track 14 and 15 respectively. Each section terminates into a curved track terminal end 16 and 17 respectively.

Through the tracks 14 and 15 is moved an endless step train 18. Referring to FIG. 5 we show a fragmentary perspective view of the improved step train 18 as used with 3',1 797 Patented Got. 22, 1963 ice our improved drive mechanism. Such step train consists of a plurality of steps 19 each having side walls 20 and 21 together with a center partition'22. A riser 23 is fixedly attached to the leading edge of the side walls 20 and 21 and partition 22. The side walls 20, 21 and partition '22 are substantially triangular in shape and have journaled therethrough a forward wheel supporting shaft 24. A second wheel bearing shaft is journaled through such walls and center partition. Each of the wheel supporting shafts 24 and 25 are journaled throughthe side walls and center partition at opposite angles of such triangular shaped side walls and partition. The shaft 24 rotatably supports guide wheels 26 and 27. These guide wheels 26 and 27 are positioned exterior of the side walls 20 and 21 immediately adjacent the outer sides thereof. The shaft 25 rotatably supports running wheels 28 and 29. These wheels 28 and 29 are exterior of and spaced from the outer faces of the side walls 20 and 21 and are adapted to run in certain tracks of the curved terminal ends 16 and 17.

The running wheels 28 and 29 are connected to a plurality of like running Wheels 30 and 31 by means of linkage 32. The running wheels 28, 29 and 30, 31 together with their linkage 32 comprise the endlessstep train of steps 19 consists of a plurality of spaced apart depending gear teeth 33 formed as an integral part of the center partition 22 of each step 19, as shown in FIG. 5.

Between the side walls of the upper section 12 of our escalator is carried the drive mechanism, 34.

Referring to FIG. 4 we show our drive mechanism as including an electrical reversible motor 35. This reversible motor 35 in turn drives a drive gear 36. This drive gear 36 has operable connection with an endless driving chain 37. This chain 37 is adapted to pass around terminal gear wheels 38'and 39. The chain 37 is guided about its circuitous path by upper and lower rail supporting tracks 40 and 41. Each of these supporting tracks 40 and 41 have their opposite ends reversely inclined as at 42, 43, 44 and 45 respectively. The rail supporting tracks 40 and 41 are so positioned so as to present the chain 37 into a position whereby the gear teeth 33 of each step 19 can engage such chain.

In order to insure proper drive connection and driving direction between the gear teeth 33 and the chain 37 we form such gear teeth 33 of such a length that they will project into and through the opening between each link 46 of such chain 37. In order to allow such projection of the elongated gear teeth 33 between the links 46 of the chain 37 the outer surfaces of each of the tracks 46 and 41 are provided with spaced apart longitudinally extending guide rails 47 and 48. It is upon these rails 47 and 48 that the chain 37 actually travels over.

It should be noted that in any prior escalator employing a chain drive such chain is normally caused to I roll upon a solid track. This procedure presented the problem'of faulty driving direction between the chain and the step train. The use of a solid track required that the teeth engaging the steps would be of a relative short length. As the chain would drive these teeth it would position the teeth of the step upward at such an angle so as to force the running wheels of the step to frictionally bind in the tracks provided therefor. In the present instance the gear teeth 33 of each step 19 extends below the chain between the rails 47 and 48 so that the movement of the chain relative thereto causes a proportional directional driving force transmitted thereto.

In referring to FIG 3 it should also be noted that the end members 49 and '50 of each of the links 46 of the chain 37 are positioned outwardly with respect to the spaced apart rails 47 and 48. Therefore the rails 47 and 43 provide a guiding and positioning means for the chain 37 as it is rotated in either direction by the electric motor 35. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 it is seen that as the chain 37 passesover the inclined portions, for an example in referring to FIG. 2 the inclined portion 43 of the track 40, the chain is elevated into a position where the gear teeth 33 will mesh with the links 36 of the chain 37. Each succeeding step is thus brought into driven connection with the chain 37 but does not actually function as a part of the driving connection-until all of the gear teeth 33 are disposed between the links 46 of the chain 37. Thus each succeeding step 19 will have its gear teeth 33 grad ually meshed with the. links 46 of the driving chain 37 as such chain is elevated into full driving position with respect thereto.

While We haveillustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying our invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. We, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of consrtuction set forth, but desire to avail ourselvesof such variations and modifications as come Within the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

said chain moves with the teeth of said said partition, an upper track beneath the upper runof said chain and including spaced rails the upper longitudinal edge portions of which project above the track and between which the said teeth move with said chain, the opposite end portions of said track and said rails being reversely tapered to permit saidchain passing over said rails to disengage from said teeth on said partition, and a lower track above the lower run of said chain and includ ing spaced rails the lower longitudinal edge portions of which extend below said lower track and against which partition projecting between said rails.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS I 1,196,764 France Nov. 26, 

